Cremation is the disposal of a corpse by fire. It is an ancient and widespread practice, second only to burial. Some ancient cultures believed that fire was a purifying agent, and that cremation would light the way of the deceased to another world, or to prevent the return of the dead.
The Greeks are known to have cremated their dead as early as 3000 years ago. Cremation was the predominant mode of corpse disposal by the time of Homer 2700 years ago.
In Rome cremation became such a status symbol that constructing and renting space in columbariums (vaults or similar structures with niches in the walls to receive the ashes of the dead) became a profitable business. But by about 100 years into the spread of Christianity, cremations in the Roman Empire were stopped. Although cremation was not explicitly taboo among Christians, it was not encouraged because of pagan associations and because of the concern that it might interfere with the resurrection of the body and its reunion with the soul. Another more practical reason for the decline of cremations is that they were threatening to bring about serious wood shortages, since so much timber was being felled for pyres.
Cremation was rare in western Europe until the 19th century, except in emergencies. During an outbreak of the Black Death in 1656, for example, the bodies of 60,000 victims were burned in Naples during a single week.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2008
